Pioneers Park Nature Center

The Chet Ager building contains a variety of exhibits including live, rescued animals and taxidermy mounts, and offers unobstructed views of the adjacent bird garden and Heron Wetland.

Construction of the Prairie Building was accomplished in three phases: the education wing in 1997, the Malinovskis Auditorium in 2000, and the Exhibit Hall and office space in 2007.

[4] In 1963, 40 acres roughly encompassing these ponds were dedicated as the Chet Ager Bird and Wildlife Nature Study Sanctuary.

[4] City property that had previously been farmed was acquired by the sanctuary in 1975, adding sixteen acres on the south side of Haines Branch Creek.

[4] Previously, the sanctuary had adjoined a drive-through zoo featuring exotic animals such as zebu and water buffalo.

The exotic animals were sold or traded to zoos and replaced with native wildlife such as foxes, deer, turkeys, bison, and elk.

[4] Hilltop Prairie, otherwise known as "The 80," added a block of 80 acres to the western edge of the existing Nature Center when purchased from the Martins in 1999.

[5] In the aftermath of that decision, two historic buildings that were part of the State Fair's Heritage Village were moved to the Nature Center.

The following year the Hudson Cabin, a one-room log home originally built in 1863, was sited on the southern border of Martin Prairie.

Each year, in collaboration with the Salt Valley Greenway and Prairie Corridor project, the Land Management Crew conducts prescribed burns.